Fifteenth+Welsh+4

**__Amendment Fifteen__**
By: Grant, Timmy, Danielle, and Dominique

Amendment Fifteen was created on February 26, 1869 and ratified on February 3, 1870. It states that : 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previuos condition of servitude. 2. The congress shall have full power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

The amendment was passed after the Civil War. It was created to make it so African American free slaves could now have all the rights white American citizens had. The first person to vote under the provisions of this amendmant was Thomas Mundy Peterson. After this amendment was made, more colored people started voting and had a right in their government.

It took a while for the amendment to be aknowledged as voting discrimination continued. The amendment only said that all people could vote, it never said what rules voting booths had to have. Sounthern states began to realize this in the 1890s and began to make it harder for blacks to vote. Some things which officials did were creating literacy tests and creating taxes on voting only for blacks.
 * Amendment Problems**

But the federal government was willing to support the amendment and U.S. soldiers were sent to the south when riots broke out such as one in New Orleans which was trying to overthrow the black and white government of the city. This proved to help problems, but President Rutherford B. Hayes, to gain a better relationship with the south, decided to take the federal troops out of the south. This allowed discriminations to continue. Sometimes even law enforcement would get involved, but on the side against the blacks.

Blacks were only able to have full voting rights after the Voting Rights Act (VRA) was passed in 1965 after speeches and encouragement by people such as Martin Luther King Jr. and finally Lyndon B. Johnson told congress to pass an act that would prevent people from disobeying the fifteenth amendment. This would allow blacks to now fully have the right to vote as American citizens.



Here are some questions and answers. Mabey it will help you if you had any questions.

Q: How is this Amendment helpful? A: This amendment is helpful because more people in the USA could vote and have a decision of how their lives should be run and who their government should be run by.

Q:How does this amendment affect me? A: This amendment effects me because me or some of my freinds might not be able to vote when we get older.

Q:Why was this amendment made? A: This amendment was made because so people who are a differnet color could have a say in their government, especially male slaves.

Q:What does this amendment mean?(What is it)? A:This amendment means that no matter what color of your skin, religion that you belive in, or what ever happened in the past you have the right to vote.

Q:What problems has this amendment made? A:Some problems were that many people in the south opposed the amendment. Also, the old democratic party opposed the amendment.





__//**Current Events**//__ This article is about how in recent years Black Americans have been discriminated in voting. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has had to become involved 45 times after 1982 to help victims of this discrimination. Some issues include 125,000 blacks receiving letters that they can not vote if they had moved in the last 30 days in 1990 which was untrue and in the 2004 blacks were intimidated, told to leave by officials without reason, putting up signs saying that the voting would take place later, and changing registrations, so it looked like some blacks had already voted when they didn't.
 * Report: North Carolina Struggles with Voting Discrimination**

Grant's reflection: I think that it is shameful for this to be going on in our country. It would be a lot easier if everyone would just just get along. This would help make everyone happy and prevent further problems from happening. I fully agree with the DOJ interfering with the discrimination issue because I believe that justice must be administered to these cruel wrongdoers.

This article is about how the association will ask the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to make a state law that prohibits mentally incapacitated residents from voting. This case is in the hands of Chief Judge James B. Loken and Judge Raymond W. Gruender. Bob Scaletty are the appellants in this case. They consist that Missouri's law violates the U.S. Constitution's equal protection and due process clauses, the __Americans with Disabilities Act__ or the Rehabilitation, Comprehensive Services and Developmental Disabilities Act of 1978.
 * Report: O'Connor will hear Missouri voting discrimination case**

Dominique's reflection: I think that having a new law prohibiting voting for physically or mentally disabled people is wrong. They are people just like the rest of us and should have an equal say in our government. Yet I also think that people who are in rehabilitation should have there rights suspended wile they are at a week point in there lives. But once they are feeling better and confident they should get those rights back immedietly.

This article is about how in Georgia you have to pay if you want to vote. This means that anyone who can not afford to pay the fine for voting or if they are poor can not vote. If you have a driver's liscense you are allowed to vote also. But if you don't, then you have to pay. You can buy a voting ID card from 20 dollars for a five-year card or 35 dollars for a ten-year card.
 * Report: Georgia` s New Pole**

Danielle` s reflection: I think that this is crazy! There is no right that you have to pay to vote. I think it is stupid. If you are unwealthy then you should still be able to vote, you're still a citizen. Also, voting should have nothing to do with having a lisense. I think that this law is rediculous!!!

This article is about prisoners of Oregon not being allowed to vote. Prisoners of Oregon have been barred from voting in local elections. It was a law signed by Governer John Kitzhaber. Concern was on the increase by Yamhill County Clerk Charles Stern, he advised state lawmakers that the state law only prevented state prisoners to vote, not a single federal one. The city of Sheriden worried about the 1,800 federal inmates that were able to muster all their votes. Stern said that if all the inmates voted, it could impact on their community. Marylin Shannon and R-Brooks had quickly introduced a bill that would take the right away. Later, prisoners stopped voting in Sheridan.
 * Report: Oregon Law bars Federal Prisoners From Voting**

Timmy's reflection: What are they saying? I think it's fair that prisoners can vote. I mean, we are a free country and we do have to make up laws, bills, and etc., but taking away rights to vote from prisoners is like anyone is allowed to play baseball and I can't. They sound like hypocrites then. Everyone, even prisoners, should be able to vote.

fifteenth amendment-

Grant: I feel that the fifteenth amendment really helped America become more equal. It gave all black men the right to vote which would eventually lead to giving women the right to vote. This made our nation more fair and despite protests this amendment was still passed and courageous African Americans continued to vote despite discrimination. I am very proud that this amendment was made.
 * __Refelctions__**

Danielle: I feel that this Amendment gave blacks more freedoms in their lives. I am proud that the colored didn` t give up and they protested and did what ever they could to get their freedom. Today if I wasn't able to vote then I would be very sad. Thanks to the colored people everyone that is over 18 can vote thanks to the courageous colored!!!!

Dominique: I feel that this amendment is amazing! I mean really, not only did it help give colored people more rights but it made are amendments open to a wider variety of people. In this case more people can vote to make the elections more interesting. And look ... today thanks to that amendment we have an African American man running for president of these United States.

Timmy: I feel that this amendment made blacks more involved in America. It gave them rights and freedoms. the freedom to vote most of all. For example, Barrack Oboma is now running for the democratic nomination for president. I feel our nation has improved alot since this amendment was created. America works together!!

If you need any more information on the fifteenth amendment the following websites were interesting if you want to get more information or details on Amendment Fifteenth and its results: [|Amendment 15 video #1] [|Amendment-15 video #2] [|Amendment 15 video #3] [|www.ourdocuments.gov] also listed below [|unconstitution.net] also listed below [|civilrights.org (current event whole article)] also listed below [|u-s-history.com] [|ohiohistorycentral.org] http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4185/is_20070207/ai_n17202170 __(current event whole article)__ also listed below [|current event]

__Websites Used__ [|www.civilrights.org] [|www.unconstitution.net] [|www.ourdocuments.gov] [|www.findarticles.com]